Alleged purse snatcher at I-5 crash proclaims innocence

Mark Struk of Carlsbad proclaims his innocence to a TV reporter after leaving the Vista jail earlier this week.

Mark Struk of Carlsbad proclaims his innocence to a TV reporter after leaving the Vista jail earlier this week. (Charlie Neuman)

A man who authorities allege stole the purse of a pregnant woman killed in a crash on Interstate 5 in Solana Beach said he actually is “a Good Samaritan.”

“I am completely innocent,” Mark Christopher Struk, 31, said after being released on $20,000 bail from Vista jail Wednesday afternoon.

Struk maintained that he returned the purse to the crash scene, declining further comment.

The California Highway Patrol, however, isn't buying that explanation.

“He gave a little different statement to investigators,” CHP Sgt. Scott Payson said. “Not every detail but the important details” of what happened.

Payson said CHP investigators agree that Struk and a women were in a car at the scene of the crash early Sunday morning, but don't believe they were acting as Good Samaritans.

Struk was arrested at his home Tuesday. Authorities believe they know who was in the car with him, Payson said, and she has provided a statement. Investigators are still working on the case and looking for the purse.

Yine Erandy Gonzalez Angeles, 24, of Tijuana and her unborn child were killed when her SUV was hit from behind by a Nissan Altima driven by John Francis Sudac Jr. about 1 a.m. Sunday.

Sudac, who lives in Carlsbad, allegedly fled the scene, and turned himself in about 18 hours later. He was booked on charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, hit and run, felony DUI causing death, and marijuana possession.

Sudac, 27, has been released on $200,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Vista Superior Court Monday. Authorities are still seeking a man who was in the car with him.

Gonzalez' purse was thrown from the Ford Explorer and landed on the freeway when the vehicle rolled.

Investigators allege that Struk was driving a 2004 Subaru station wagon that was passing the scene. They say the vehicle stopped, and a female passenger got out and grabbed the purse, got back in and the Subaru continued north on I-5.

Authorities say witnesses recorded the Subaru's license plate and gave a description of both occupants.

Struk, who was arrested on suspicion of felony grand theft, is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 14 in Vista Superior Court.